GH2 Worth buying a Tamron 17-50 2.8?

A

Admir

Well-known member
Hi!

I had a chance to play with the Nikon 17-55 2.8 a couple of days ago. I don't have the money right now to buy it so I am lookin for the next best thing that I can afford.. Reading a lot of reviews and the Tamron 17-50 non VC looks like a steal for the money! I'm looking for the one that's 67mm in the front since that one is non-VC.

Does this lens preform good on the GH2? I understand that it will not be as good as the Nikon but judging what people say it's not that different (besides the build quality).

Comparing this lens with old Nikon E primes such as 28mm 2.8, 50mm 1.8, and 100m f 2.8, how good is the Tamron?
 
I just bought this lens and haven't had a chance to shoot very much with it. My initial impression, for what it's worth, is that it's surprisingly soft wide open, but excellent otherwise. That said, I've never used the Nikon 17-55, nor do I have experience with the Nikon E primes.
 
its a good sharp lens through most of the zoom but does not have as pleasing a bokeh as the nikon, in my opinion anyway
 
Thanks for your input guys!

As far as the soft image goes, I think that the VC version suffers much more from it than the non VC according to users online... I'm out after a fast allround lens that gives nice and pleasing footage, and for this price I can't see how it can be beaten.
 
It's a great lens - I bought one for my canon and compared against the highly efs regarded canon equivalent, it had more contrast, better colour - just more all-round bite. I think you'll like it.
 
I've had sharp images aperture wide open (f2.8) from Tokina AT-X series zoom lenses. If full aperture sharpness is important, maybe have a look what Tokina could offer.
 
I've been looking at the Tokina but that's a bit to much money... Right now I can get a second hand Tamron for 220 dollars...

But the Tokina lenses looks really promising, definitly something to get in the future!
 
I think I've found the Tamron relatively sharp at 17mm actually, even wide open compared to some vintage primes. Its at the far end, 50mm, that it appears soft wide open.
At least in my eyes. For the money, this one is pretty indispensable to me. Even if just to use as a sharp 17mm F/2.8!
 
Yes, when it looked soft wide open I was at the long end (not quite 50mm, but awfully close). Please don't let my one criticism sway you too much. It's a great lens!
 
hehe no worry Gerson, I still like this lens! This might come as a stupid question, but would you say that this lens gives "cinematic" quality to the image or is it more of a digitalcamera/budget look to it?
 
Does this lens keep the focus while you zoom in and out? Some lenses you have to refocus every time you zoom..
 
the lens is parfocal, and performs quite well wide open closer to the wider side. my main gripe with this lens is the extremely short focus pull, leaves much to be desired especially for video purposes, unless you're shooting a deep DOF. i would check out the tokina 16-50mm f2.8, that lens has peaked my interest recently,
 
Lol I have an oppurtunity to buy the tamron for 70 bucks since the focus motor is dead, and I would never usenthe AF anyway so I guess that's a steal for the money... So parfocal means that the focus will stay the same while zooming?
 
Tass said:
Lol I have an oppurtunity to buy the tamron for 70 bucks since the focus motor is dead, and I would never usenthe AF anyway so I guess that's a steal for the money... So parfocal means that the focus will stay the same while zooming?
Click to expand...

$70 is a STEAL for this lens. Yes, parfocal means it will stay focused as you move along the zoom range. However, I believe Stroh is incorrect in stating that this one is parfocal.
Most zoom lenses are not, as they are very complicated to manufacture and have very little use outside of the video world. From personal experience, I have to readjust focus everytime the zoom is moved.

Aside from some folks using old TV lenses with adapters, I haven't really seen many parfocal lenses around.
 
hmm if the focus changes while zooming it is very minimal, i did not experience a noticeable shift in focus at higher F-stops throughout the zoom range, though admittedly i only had the lens for a few months before i sold my canon setup.
 
The best deal on super fast, super zoom, video friendly, parfocal, focus tracking, silent lenses is a camcorder. I have a large number of zooms, but I never use them on the GH2, I just put primes on. I realize the need for zoom, so I put six primes in a carrying case and fitted them with adapters. You just don't get the same DOF at F2.8 and most of those lenses need to be stopped down to F4. I definitely can recommend the Kobori 28-200 (Vivitar Label, $35 used), but I still use my primes, I mean, they are better lenses. I supplement the primes+GH2 with the Canon G10 for times when I need a smooth, silent zoom. Plus there is no video noise or aliasing. Lpowell has had good results with his Leicasonic, however.
The bokeh is really important on zoom lenses. If you use it wide open, your backgrounds may look messy in certain situations, so check that out.
 
I have an HMC150 when I need a "pro" zoom camera for ENG work and so on. I just find my self to many times shooting with the GH2 and not having time to change the lens, and when I try to change them fast (and it never goes fast when you're alone) you miss those sweet moments...

I should have my 70$ tamron next week... In any case it's worth taking the risk for 70$ =P. I've seen that some people claim that the tamron actually is not 2.8 when open, but more like f3.5, this sounds strange but still plausible since it is really cheap for the money?

This video made me really want this lens: http://vimeo.com/21379553#comment_6808915
 
Last edited:
Maybe this has been covered, but when I go to the B&HVideo site they list half-a-dozen Tamron 17-50mm/f2.8 lenses, none designated as for the Panasonic GH2. If you purchased this lens new, which would be best to select? What about adapters?

Thanks.
 
Well I am buying a tamron with nikon mount. My gh2 has a adapter for nikon mounts with apperture ring so I can control the F stop on the lens. Don't go with the VC version since a lot of folks say that it is softer, and you won't have any use of the VC function anyway... The one that's heading my way is called Tamron AF SP 17-50/2,8 XR Di-II LD Aspherical (IF)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top